A spectacular new sculpture soars above the Telecom Corridor® in Richardson, Texas and exemplifies the city’s commitment to its Public Art Master Plan. A selection committee made up of Richardson residents and arts professionals reviewed 22 proposals from artists. The winning design, by Ed Carpenter, was recently installed at a site specifically selected for this unique public art opportunity celebrating the history of technology in Richardson. The 70’ high structure resides in a highly visible location at the center of the community and is in close proximity to the Central Trail for pedestrians to enjoy. 

Ed Carpenter’s sculpture, named “Micro Macro Mojo”, stretches into the sky like a torch or an enormous map pin marking the point of entry into Richardson. The contemporary piece measures just 8” wide at the base and dramatically expands to 24’ across at the top. Nine steel cables, engineered for the strongest strong winds, keep the sculpture perfectly vertical. The sculpture contains an outer lattice layer of crossing diagonal cables spanning from the top to a point 11’ above the ground. These cables support laminated dichroic glass elements forming a rich texture of light-interactive surfaces. These elements may suggest abstract ones and zeros, the basic building blocks of all things digital, and fitting for a city with such a distinctly high-tech identity. At 70’ high, Micro Macro Mojo reaches well into the view of passing automobile and train travelers, providing maximum impact as a gateway and icon. At the same time, it provides a centerpiece for an attractive new pocket park.

The Micro Macro Mojo sculpture is made up of a stainless steel, laminated dichroic safety glass, and galvanized steel components. The entire structure needed to be able to withstand the elements and sustainable solutions were favored in the design process. Due to its extreme height, minimal maintenance and longevity were extremely important. Ed Carpenter had previous experience designing sculptures in highly visible outdoor spaces and therefore knew hot-dip galvanizing would deliver on these project objectives while offering an aesthetic that matched the overall project vision.

The carbon steel main structure, structural cables and steel hardware in Micro Macro Mojo were all galvanized. Due to the large size of some of the components, two facilities were used to galvanize the steel. One was located near the metal fabricator, while the one with a larger kettle was much further away. Careful attention to turn-around times and coordination with the artist and metal fabricator made the galvanizing process go smoothly. Since this piece would be in a highly visible location, quality control was of utmost importance. Both galvanizers were able to successfully meet the demands of this project and will make a lasting impression on residents of Richardson, TX.